Can arranging machine



April 4, 1961 v. H. HENTHORN cm ARRANGING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1958 6| INVENTOR V/cf'ar H. Henfirarn ATTORNEY April 4, 1961 v. HENTHORN CAN ARRANGING MACHINE 10' Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l l'c'for H. Henfhcrn & o 3

Filed Dec. 10, 1958 ATTORNEY v. H. HENTHORN CAN ARRAN'GING MACHINE April 4, 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 10, 1958 INNTOR 7 19. Her; 7790711 ATTORNEY April 4, 1961 v. H. HENTHORN CAN ARRANGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY April 4, 1961 H. HENTHORN 2,978,091

CAN ARRANGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1958 lQSheets-Sheec 5 INVENTOR V/E'for H. Hen fborn ATTORNEY April 1961 v. H. HENTHORN 2,978,091

CAN ARRANGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VENTOR Ylkf'or H. Henfhorn ATTORNEY April 4, 1961 v. H. HENTHORN CAN ARRANGING MACHINE 10 sheets -Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 10, 1958 INVENTOR Vic 7'07- Hen/7 7 or April 4, 1961 V. H. HENTHORN CAN ARRANGING MACIHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 10, 1958 INVENTOR :1 V/c'for h. Henf/rorn s ATTORNEY A ril 4, 1961 v. H. HENTHORN cm ARRANGING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 10, 1958 V INVFIQQIYOR V/for H/ /enfbarh ATTORNEY April 1961 v. H. HENTHORN 2,978,091

CAN ARRANGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR i/x'c'fo'r Hehf/rbrr) United States Patent O CAN ARRANGING MACHINE Victor B. Henthorn, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Burt Machine Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Dec. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 779,323

15 Claims. (Cl. 198--3l) This invention relates to a case filling machine, particularly to a machine for filling cases or cartons with cans that have previously been filed and labeled and in preparationfor storage orshipment. Such machines are composed of a single way or track over which the cans roll to a divider or arranger where they are arranged into a plurality of.rolling lines side by side and in tiers so that they maybe placed in cases or cartons of varying size This machine is an improvement over that shown in Patent No. 2,559,655, July 10, 1951, and No. 2,646,156, July 21, 1953. g

One object of the invention is to arrange the way so that the cans are fed from a single line into a can distributor from which they roll out in a plurality of lines, both side by side and superimposed upon one another.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the distribution so that both the infeed and the outward rolling ways are on the same side of the divider in order to conserve the space in the plant. Heretofore, it has been-more custimary to roll the cans in on one side and to deliver them on the opposite side of the divider.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the cans in the distributor with as little contactby the dividing means as possible so that the labels on the cans will not be injured or the can dented.

Another object of the invention is to make the run ways straight, or curved only with the diameter of a rolling can, so that the cans never tend to bind at their ends on the ways.

Another object of the inventionis to make a machine that will operate quietly, and with a minimum of supervision and from which cans that may become out of line may be quickly removed without interfering with the complete case charge and assembly.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the timing of the different operations that there will be the least possible lost time or action between those operations, and

so that if for any reason the supply of cans to the ma chine were delayed, the line dividing means would be stopped, and yetwhich will permit any full case loads in the magazine of the machine to be cased.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the cans in the magazine or section of the machine just prior to their passage to the casing section evenly, ratherthan filling one of the section ways and then another.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the mechanism for delivering the cans from the distributor 2,978,091 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 Ice In the machine of the present invention, cans are rolled to the line dividing means, or elevator divider in a single line from a labeller or can filling machine or the like and in the divider they first pass down into and around the lower end or boot of an elevator which has flights thereon so arranged that one can passes between each two flights. Guide plates are on both sides of the upper run or" the conveyor and parallel to it, the conveyor being arranged in a substantially vertically closed loop, and these guides hold the cans from rolling from the sides of the conveyor flights. As the conveyor rises from the boot of the divider, the cans lean from one side of the flights toward the guide on that side and the initial side in the instant invention is toward the center of the divider. Up a small distance from the bottom of the conveyor 21 tilter tilts selected can outwardly from the inner guide so that they ride on the outer guide and the same flights. The two guides parallel with the conveyor have other guides thereon normal to the surface of these parallel guides which extend in opposite diagonal directions across the facing surfaces of the two parallel guides so that the cans sliding on the facing guides are moved longitudinally to each other on the flights, the flights being long enough for this axial movement of the cans, each being long enough to hold twe cans axially arranged thereon, though each flight only carries one can. As the cans approach the top of the machine, the outward parallel guide is brought inwardly so that the cans pass vertically upwardly, spaced on opposite ends of the respective flights of the conveyor, as the conveyor passes over its upper sprockets. As the cans then descend on the opposite side of the conveyor, the same side to which they were originally admitted, they approach a group of downwardly sloping ways, arranged with three superimposed ways beside three other similarly superimposed ways, so that the cans from the distributor will roll out and form two tiers of three rows each. They are then passed toa machine for inserting them into cartons which forms no part of this invention, but which may be similar to that shown in the above Patent No. 2,559,655.

As is apparent, a further arvantage is the fact that the carton filling machine may in this invention be arranged closely to the single line infeed way for the divider, so that a single'operator may not only watch both operations but may rearrange the cans on either of them to assure the continued operation of the apparatus.

Other objects and, advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure l is a rear elevation of the top of the machine with the back removed, and showing the driving motor.

. Figure 2 is an end elevation of the speed changing devise on the motor calibrated into suitable units for varying the speed of the machine to keep it in proper time forv the delivery of the number of arranged cans required.

Figure 3 is central elevation of the rear of the machine with the back removed, continuing downwardly from Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the lower part of the machine, continuing downwardly from Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the top of the machine showing the motor from the opposite end from that of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side elevation continuing downwardly from Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a central side elevation of the machine continuing downwardly from Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevation continuing downwardly from Figure 7 of the boot or lower end of the machine.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 9--9 of Figure 8.

Figure is a side elevational view of the infeed and delivery rollways of the machine.

Figure 11 is a top plan fragmentary view of the infeed rollway of the machine from the right of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the delivery rollways showing the case filling machine in a fragmentary manner, from the right of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a rear view of the elevator divider showing the can spacing guides.

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the back of the machine with a can spacing guide thereon.

Figure is a side elevational view of the back showing the same guide as shown in Figure 14.

In the drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The inlet or infeed roll way 1 receives the cans from the seaming machine or labeling machine, and this roll way is arranged to pass between the uprights 2 of the support 3 beneath the casing machine 4. The inlet roll way has within its bed a movable plate 5 over which all the cans roll and this plate operates a switch 6. If the cans are allowed to pass down the ways 1 a few at a time, the switch is normally open, but when the cans accumulate on the roll way 1 and back up to load the movable plate 5, then the switch is closed and the drive of the elevator divider is started, thus assuring a full elevator. The cans rolling down the roll way 1 enter the boot or lower section '7 of the line divider or elevator divider 8. This divider has a frame-work of bars and angles bolted together as shown. In the framework is an endless conveyor 9 comprised of two chains for flights 10 therebetween, the chains passing around sprockets 1 1 in the boot 7 of the machine and 12 at the top. These sprockets are mounted on the ends of the central frame members 13 and they have at their lower ends a chain tightener 14.

As the ways 1 enter the lower end 7 of the divider a pivoted bottom for the way 1 is provided at 15, pivoted at 16 and held up by spring 17 which gives when the cans fail to register accurately with the flights 10 when the cans enter the conveyor 9.

A plate-like guide 18 extends through the length of the divider parallel with the conveyor and its flights. Although they always hold only one can each, the flights are long enough to hold at least two cans when axially arranged on the flights as shown particularly in Figure 1. The cans, after passing around the semi-circular guide 19 in the boot of the divider are lifted upwardly by the flights contacting one side of the can and the cans slide on guide 18 in their upward movement. Guide 18 has an opening 20 therein slightly above the divider boot and can tilting members 21, mounted on chain 22 which in turn is mounted on sprockets 23 and 24, 23 being driven, pass through opening 20 and tilt the cans over that are contacted by the tilter members 21, away from their balance on the slide guide 18 to a similar position on outside or back guide 25. This guide extends substantially to the top of the machine where it is joined by circular guides 26 around the top of the conveyor and the sprockets 12.

The guides 18 and 25 have on their facing surfaces and extending normally to these surfaces transversely sloping guides 27' and 28. The lower ends of these guides engage the ends of the cans just after the tilting of the selected group of cans by the tilting members 21 as shown in Figures 8 and 13. Guide 27 pushes the cans so that it engages to the right as shown in Figure 13, as the cans rest upon flight 10 and the guide 18. Guide 28 pushes the cans that it engages, after they have been tilted against the outer guide 25, to the left as shown in Figure 13. In this manner as the cans reach the top of the divider as shown in Figures 1 and 13, certain cans are on the extreme right and another group is on the left. In these respective positions the cans are again brought inwardly to the guide 18 and they ride around the shaft 29 of the top sprockets 12 on the collars 30 aflixed by set screws 4 to the shaft 29. As the cans descend, after passing around the top of the divider, they are still in the control of the conveyor flights 10 as shown in Figure 6 and they ride on guides 31, riding in two parallel paths although only one can is between each pair of flights.

Delivery ways 32, 33 and 34 slope downwardly from the face of the elevator 8 and they are attached at the front bars 35 of the elevator. There are two ways 32, two ways 33 and two ways 34, each pair being side by side or abreast, on the same level at their points of attachment to the frame bars 35. Flipping members 36 and 37, being in the form of plates extending all the way across and adapted to pass between the conveyor chains, to engage cans on their respective side of the flights are attached to rotary members on axes 38 and 39. These axes are turned counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 6 under the action of springs 40 and 41 having one end attached to the axes and the other to the frame of the elevator. The axes 38 and 39 holding the flippers are connected together by arms 42 and 43 and bar 44 and the lower arm '43 has thereon a follower 45 riding on the cam 46 mounted on the driven shaft 47. When the cam pushes the follower and its connecting arms upwardly, the flippers 36 and 37 are drawn inwardly to the left as shown in Figure 6 against the pull of the springs 40 and 41. When the follower descends on the smaller portion of the cam the flippers are permitted to swing outwardly, to eject the cans from the conveyor, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6.

Opposite ways 34 the guides 31 terminate and a curved shield 48 deflects all the other cans remaining on the conveyor outwardly to ways 34. The cam and shield provide for the ejection of cans into all three runways.

The cans will be deflected at the respective ways 32, 33 and 34 in such order as they may have been initially tilted by tilting members 21 and the tilting members 2 1 may be arranged on the chain 22 in such position as may be desired to substantially evenly fill the inclined ways 32, 33 and 34. As illustrated the tilting members 21 are arranged to tilt every other can as they ride up by the tilting members, so that every other can is pushed outwardly from the guide 18 to the guide 25.

As the cans roll down the ways 34 they pass over the hinged part 49 in the floor of ways 34 to operate a switch 50 which is normally closed as the cans run over the ways 34 and the bottom 49 of the ways 34. But if the cans should accumulate and back up on the ways 34, the switch 50 will be operated to open the circuit to the drive of the elevating conveyor.

It will thus be seen that an operator may stand at position X and observe the cans coming in on ways 1 and there observe the operation of the carton packing machine 4. It will also be apparent that since the roll way leading into the divider and those coming out of the divider are on the same side of the divider, that approximately onehalf the space is occupied by the machine as by previous constructions in which these respective ways were on opposite sides of the divider.

Elevator 9 is driven by motor 51 by means of a pulley 52 which is held together by a spring and expanded to vary the speed of the drive and the pulley 52 drives belt 53 which in turn drives pulley 54, which through speed reducing pulleys and belt 55 and sprockets and chains 56 drives shaft 29 at the top of the machine. Pulley 54 is on shaft 57 and it has a slip clutch 58 between it and the sprocket driving chain 56. Also a hand Wheel 59 is provided to turn the chain short distances for proper adjustment of the chain. Sprockets 23 on shaft 60 are driven from chain 61, driven from a sprocket on shaft 47. A chain tightener 62 mounted on arm 63 maintains the lower chain 56 tight and the conveyor 9 has its align ment maintained by the sprockets 64.

It will be apparent that many modifications and changes may be madein the illustrated form of the structure de- '5 scribed and shown in the drawings without departing from the invention. a v

Whatis claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a can arranging-machine comprising a dist-ributor, means to feed a continuous line of cans to the distributor, said distributor comprising an endless conveyorhaving flights thereon and having in its path an upwardly directed substantially vertical course, guides parallel to the flights on each side of the conveyor within said course on.which the cans ride while propelled by the conveyor, the feeding means feeding a can to each flight, means to tilt cans on the flights in a selected order from one guide to the other, and means to separate the cans on the separate guides to different paths of travel while still propelled by the conveyor.

2. In a can arranging machine comprising a distributor, means to feed a continuous line of cans to the distributor, said distributor comprising an endless conveyor having flights thereon and having in its path an upwardly directed substantially vertical course, means on both sides of the conveyor to retain cans in position for vertical upward propulsion by the conveyor flights, means to tilt cans on the flights in a selected order from the retaining means on one side, of the conveyor to that on the other side, and means to separate the cans held by the respective retaining means into different paths of travel.

3. A rolling can line separator comprising a'pair of inclined ways spaced side ways at their upper ends for the rolling of cans thereon, a distributor adjacent said upper ends of the ways, means, to feed a continuous line of cans to said distributor, said distributor comprising a power driven endless conveyor having flights thereon, each flight receiving a can with axis parallel thereto from said feeding means, a guide on each side of said conveyor, parallel to the flights, said conveyor cooperating with said guides to carry cans to adjacent the upper ends of both said ways, means to tilt cans in a preselected order from one guide to the other.

4. 'In a can arranging machine, a pair of inclined ways spaced side ways at their upper ends for the rolling of cans thereon, a distributor adjacent the upper ends of said way-s, means to feed a continuous line of cans to said distributor, said distributor comprising a continuously driven conveyor means adjacent the face of the upper ends of said ways, said conveyor means having flights thereon each receiving a can from said feed means and the flights carrying the cans to discharge position adjacent said ways, a guiding means on each side of the conveyor, both being parallel to the flights, the cans being carried by the flights while held thereon by the guiding means, means to tilt cans around the flights in a preselected order from one guide means to the other and means to guide the cans from one guide means to rolling alignment with one way and those from the other guide means to rolling alignment with the other way.

'5. In a can arranging machine, a distributor, means to feed a continuous line of cans to the distributor, the distributor comprising an endless conveyor having a substantially vertical course in its path, flights on the con veyor of a length'to hold on each a plurality of cans with axes parallel to the flights, means to space the fed cans in a selected order first radially, then axially on said flights, means to guide the cans after their spacing around the top of the substantially vertical course of the conveyor and means to discharge the cans from the conveyor in separate paths as they descend from the said top of the conveyor. 1

6. In a can distributor, an endless conveyor moving in a closed substantially vertical loop, horizontal flights on the conveyor of a length to hold on each a plurality of cans with axes parallel to the flights, means to feed a single line of cans to said conveyor, means to space the cans in a preselected order first radially, then axially along the flights, means to guide the spaced cans around the top of the distributor under the control of the conveyor, and means to discharge the cans from the conveyor conveyor having flights thereon twice the length of the cans to be arranged, means-to feed a continuous line of rolling cans to the conveyor,superimposed pairs of inclined ways for the rolling of cans on each pair sidewise of each other at their upper ends, the upper end of each Way being adjacent said conveyor, means cooperating with said conveyor to space the cans in preselected positions first radially, then axially on the conveyor flights, support means cooperating with the conveyor to carry the cans around the highest position of the conveyor and lower them to adjacent said superimposed sidewise positioned ways.

9. The arranger of claim 8 including resilient means to release certain of the cans from the conveyor to the ways during the descent of the cans from above the ways.

10. A can elevator and arranger comprising a power driven conveyor having flights thereon, means to feed a continuous line of rolling cans to the conveyor between said flights for their propulsion and elevation thereby, means moving toward the conveyor between the flights to divide the cans between the flights into two paths of travel while their elevation by the conveyor is continued, a pair of inclined ways having their upper ends adjacent theconveyor, means to deliver cans from the conveyor to the ways, these from one path of travel to adjacent one way and those from the other path of travel to adjacent the other way.

11. A can arranger comprising a power driven endless conveyor having flights thereon twice the length of the cans to be arranged, means tofeed a continuous line of rolling cans to the conveyor, a plurality of pairs of inclined ways from the rolling of cans thereon, each pair being side by side at their upper ends and the upper end of each way being adjacent said conveyor, means cooperating with the conveyor to space the cans in preselected positions first radially, then axially on the conveyor flights, support means cooperating with the conveyor to carry the cans around the highest position of the conveyor and lower them to adjacent the ways corresponding to the preselected spacing of the cans on the conveyor flights, and means to eject cans opposite the respective ways from the conveyor to the ways.

12. A can arranging mechanism for changing a single line of cans into a plurality of lines, the mechanism having a single line inlet path, and a pair of outlet paths, the pair of outlet paths merging at their inner ends with the single line path, a conveyor in said mechanism for moving the cans therethrough, from the single line inlet path to the pair of outlet paths, means for dividing the cans in the single line path to the pair of outlet paths by tilting selected cans by a rolling motion on the conveyor and stationary guide means to move the cans endwise to the respective line of the pair of outlet paths.

13. A can arranging mechanism for changing a single line of cans into a plurality of lines, the mechanism having a single line inlet path, and a pair of outlet paths, the

pair of outlet paths merging at their inner ends with the single line path, a conveyor in said mechanism for moving the cans therethrough, from the single line inlet path to the pair of outlet paths, means extending into the path of travel of the cans in the single line path at predetermined intervals to tilt the adjacent can on the conveyor by a rolling motion, and stationary guide means to move the cans endwise to the respective line of the pair of outlet paths.

14. A distributor for arranging cans from a single to a plurality of rows of rolling cans comprising an endless conveyor moving in a closed substantially vertical path, the conveyor having thereon flights and moving down- 7 3 wardly on one side and upwardly on the other, means to spaced roll-ways adjacent the upper end of the distributor feed a singlerow of cans to the descending flights, -adja- ,to receive cans therefrom and resiliently actuated means cent the lower end of the distributor, means parallel to to discharge'cans from the conveyor to said'ways.

the ascending flights of the conveyor to retain the cans on the flights, means to divide the cans on their ascend- 6 "References Cited in the file of this patent ing flights into two vertical rows, both carried bythe conveyor flights, and diagonally extending guides to move UNITED STATES PATENTS the cans on the flights longitudinally into two vertically 1,467,008 Parker Sept. 4, 1923 extending rows 0n the flights. 2,493,942 Bingham Jan. 10, 1950 15. The distributor of claim 14 including sidewise 10 2,646,156 Neel July 21, 1953 

